Grassroots soccer league resumes, showcasing resilience after flooding

With the mud cleared and homes rebuilt after devastating floods, the Village Super League, or Cun Chao, welcomed back passionate soccer players and cheering crowds over the weekend in Rongjiang county, Guizhou province.

Rongjiang, the birthplace of the grassroots soccer event, was hit by rain-triggered floods on June 24 and 28. Just a month later, the county — where two-thirds of the main urban area was submerged and nearly all infrastructure destroyed — has seen the league regain its former glory.

Under the theme "Gratitude, Rise Up, Guizhou's Super Power", the event on Saturday hosted all rescue teams and donors who participated in flood relief efforts.

"We must urge everyone to act quickly and not dwell too long in the aftermath of the disaster," said Xu Bo, Party secretary of Rongjiang. "After a major disaster comes great revival and great progress."

He credited the rapid reconstruction in the area to the county's 385,000 residents and the disaster-relief workers who came from different parts of the country. "Through resumption of Cun Chao, we wanted to thank all helpers in this disaster and show our confidence in restarting like a phoenix reborn from the ashes," Xu said.

Saturday's festivities featured soccer matches, traditional song and dance performances, and a "gratitude"-themed parade. Italian soccer legend Roberto Baggio and Brazilian star Roberto Carlos appeared on the pitch, drawing waves of cheers from fans. The two learned to sing a Miao ethnic song and lit a ceremonial torch.

Baggio was named honorary head soccer coach of Rongjiang Secondary Vocational School, while Carlos was appointed honorary adviser.

Chen Yonghe, a doctor from Guangdong province who works in Qianxi, Guizhou, said he traveled to Rongjiang to experience the joyful atmosphere.

"I never expected the area to recover so well in such a short time," he said. "The entire stadium and the roads show no traces of the disaster. We could really feel how much effort the rescue workers must have put in."

Local authorities said power, water, communications and major road access have all been restored. The resumption rate of restaurants and hotels around the Cun Chao stadium has reached 96 percent.

Wei Zhuying, who runs a chain-brand milk tea store in the county's largest commercial complex, said her store reopened on July 22. The store's walls and counter were rebuilt, and all flood-damaged equipment was replaced.

"Our headquarters compensated us with 200,000 yuan ($27,900) to 300,000 yuan worth of new machines," Wei said. "The county government also waived one and a half months of rent and reduced our tax burden."

She had worried the disaster might impact business, but said customer numbers have remained strong. Her store gave away 2,500 cups of milk tea each day at the stadium on July 26 and 27, and distributed another 300 cups to volunteers, players and staff.

The national finals of Cun Chao will begin on Aug 9. The event will also serve as a key selection tournament for Chinese grassroots teams aiming to qualify for the 2028"Cun Chao World Cup".

Launched in May 2023, Cun Chao has become one of China's most dynamic grassroots football tournaments. Its distinctive mix of local enthusiasm, festive atmosphere and community spirit has captivated domestic audiences and drawn global attention.

Liu Qingle, deputy director of the Department of Public Administration at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, said Rongjiang is a strong example of how leveraging sports can help promote culture and tourism, improve the local business environment, boost livelihoods and advance rural revitalization.

He noted that Cun Chao has adopted modern technologies such as metaverse and aerial viewing to enhance the spectator experience, and created a shared economy model in which 50 percent of brand revenues are distributed to local residents.

Li Dong, a professor at Tsinghua University's Institute for Urban Governance and Sustainable Development, said Rongjiang's cool climate, favorable geography and sports-loving population have helped Cun Chao thrive.

Although the league started as a nonprofit event, its soaring popularity has unexpectedly spurred local consumption and investment, Li said. He suggested that local governments should prioritize understanding actual needs, assess resource advantages accurately and adopt scientific policies when exploring modernization pathways.

Yang Jun contributed to this story.